Tag: local

When you are choosing a company to travel with in the Icelandic highlands you might want to know the people you'll be spending your day with and guiding you through the wilderness. The Mountaineers of Iceland team boasts some amazing guides that are eager to show you the ins and outs of the country they love so much. Some say you have to be a little nuts to work in this environment, the long days, constantly changing weather and icy conditions on the glacier. We suspect it might be true but believe at the same time that it makes all of us more entertaining than the average, normal person. A full day with us? We promise you won't be bored. Not even for a second. The first guide we are going to question is Ólafur Tryggvason, often referred to as Óli X or King Olaf. He splits his time between guiding tours in the highlands and being in charge of operations, based here at our office in Reykjavík. He's the most energetic man anyone has ever met and seems to have more hours in the day than most people. He's very imaginative and smart and despite how humorous he constantly is - he always puts safety first. You can always rely on him and nothing at all is too much trouble for him. If you are lucky enough to travel with him on any of our tours, use the opportunity and chat. You might get to hear some amazing stories - he's done a lot in his lifetime. Let's get to know King Olaf. Describe yourself in five words. -Crazy crazy crazy crazy Icelander. How long have you been working as a guide? -Part-time for five years and as a full-time job for over a year. What is your favorite thing about being

When you are choosing a company to travel with in the Icelandic highlands you might want to know the people you’ll be spending your day with and guiding you through the wilderness. The Mountaineers of Iceland team boasts some amazing guides that are eager to show you the ins and outs of the country they love

What has Reykjavík got to offer? The cyberspace is filled with advice and suggestions on how to make the most of your time in Iceland. Dig a little deeper and you will find plenty of tips on what Reykjavík has to offer to the wandering visitor. But what is it like to actually live in the capital? What do the locals enjoy? Let's find out how to experience Reykjavík like a local. 1. Go to a symphony concert at Harpa concert hall The Iceland Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1950 and has distinguished itself as one of the leading Nordic orchestras through its many performances and recordings. Each season the orchestra gives around 60 concerts in Harpa concert hall, ranging from international and local tours to school concerts and concerts with renowned conductors and soloist. Take it all in as you sit in the largest hall in Harpa, Eldborg, and mingle with the locals during the break. And if classical music is not your style, Harpa hosts many types of events and concerts that are worth checking out. 2. Enjoy a walk to Grótta Grótta is frequented by many locals. The scenery is gorgeous, especially during sunsets and you'll get to breathe in the sea breeze as you greet the local walking his dog and the biking family dashing by you. Bring a packed meal with you and have a picnic at the black beach overlooking the lighthouse. The bird life is also fascinating and Grótta is actually a nature reserve because of it. Close by a foot bath has been carved into a rock, where you can sit by and relax with a beverage of your choice to top off your visit to this western part of the capital area. Photo by Grapevine 3. Grab some ice cream Icelanders love their ice cream.

What has Reykjavík got to offer? The cyberspace is filled with advice and suggestions on how to make the most of your time in Iceland. Dig a little deeper and you will find plenty of tips on what Reykjavík has to offer to the wandering visitor. But what is it like to actually live in the capital? What

The colonization of Iceland by Norse settlers and people from the western lands, i.e. Ireland and Scottish islands, took place in the second half of the 9th century. Íslendingabók (Book of Icelanders), written by Ari the wise tells the tale of explorations by a Norse man who set out to sail to Faroe Islands just north of Shetland, overshot it and found Iceland by coincidence. Iceland was settled in the Viking Age which began with the oldest recorded raid by Norsemen on the British mainland in Lindisfarne 793 A.D. Navigation skills as well as boat building expertise allowed Norsemen to sail across open sea with some assurance of being able to reach back to home base. By around 1000 A.D. Iceland was more or less fully settled. Vikings were yet not tamed and kept coming over the sea from Norway and Norse settlements in Ireland and Scottish islands. One of the latecomers was Eírikur rauði Þorvaldsson, Eric the red. He had to flee Norway because of manslaughter. Eric built his farm in Eiríksstaðir in western part of Iceland where his wife gave birth to a son, Leifur heppni, Leif the lucky. True to his heritage Eric came into trouble again and killed an adversary. He surveyed a large island east of Iceland and decided to make there a new home. Eric the red gave the name Greenland to this island, which is in fact the largest in the world and covered with ice cap. Ari the wise gave this explanation: He gave a name to the land and called it Greenland and said that people would be more eager to go there because the land had a good name. It seems the killer Eric the red did not fancy himself living alone despite not being the most easy man to

The colonization of Iceland by Norse settlers and people from the western lands, i.e. Ireland and Scottish islands, took place in the second half of the 9th century. Íslendingabók (Book of Icelanders), written by Ari the wise tells the tale of explorations by a Norse man who set out to sail to Faroe Islands just